US2663953A - Earth moving machine - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 29, 1953 F. D. CAHILL EARTH MOVING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 4, 1950 INVENTOR FREDRICK D. CAHILL BY WW 3 Dec. 29, 1953 F. D. CAHILL EARTH MOVING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 4, 1950 INVENTOR FREDRICK D. CAHILL- Q BY Dec. 29, 1953 F. D. CAHILL EARTH MOVING MACHINE Filed Dec. 4, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR FREDRICK D. CAHILL BY M Mun 19. M

Dec. 29, 1953 F. D. CAHlLL.

EARTH MOVING'MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Dec. 4, 1950 INVENTOR FREDRICK D. CAHILL Patented Dec. 29, 1953 UNITED sm'rajs PATENT OFFICE 2 fClailifS. a1

This invention-relates to -new; and useful improvements in earth*movingmachines and more particularly pertainsyto improvements in the mounting of 'and the means for moving the :component parts of machines of the type including an earth carrying bowl, and a rotatably -,mount ed reel running'between the bowl and acombined scraper blade 'and-rhoo'd ipartiallyembracing the bowl.

The lprimaryobject'pf this :invention -i s to support the bowl: and its associated mechanism in an improved manner-"so that the vertical position :of thesame relative :toathe ground surface may be moreefiectivelyicontrolled during use of thefmachinefor grading, vscraping and loading, or-hauling to the point of *dis'charge.

Another important IObjeCt Of this invention is to increase the traction of a machine of this type so that the samema y 'be more efiectively employed on soft or broken 'surfaces making the use of present :day-*equipmentof this character diflicult in the extreme, if not :impossible.

Yet another important object-of this. invention is to positively drive the reel in -a direction independent of 'theielevation of .the 'same 'relative to the ground surface, and also independently of the direction f the i'advance of the machine.

A meritorious feature of'thepresent invention resides in the provision of-an auxiliary frame that is adjustable inheightirelative to the wheel'supported frame, and which auxiliary frame is .pivoted on a drive-shaft rotatably mounted on the main frame, such iirive 'shaft -being'dr-ivinglycom 'nected to the reel.

Another important teature of thespresent in"- ing blade, and' the reel aH being'ca'rried by'the auxiliary frame, together with means for ad"- justing the 'ver tical height of the auxiliary frame relative to the 'm'ai'n name, whereby the force with which the sc'r aper blad'e is urged downwardly may be increased until 's'ubstantially the same as the entire weight ofthemachineiwith the reel then *pr6viding'near1y all the traction of the machin'e by virtue of the "same being disposed between the pairs of ground wheels "and near the center gi' a ity dfthe niachihe.

Still another and "the last-important feature oi' the invention to be rspecifically' set forth herein resides in the-means iprovided fore-and carried by the auxiliary frame c for rotating the bowl from a loading or carrying position to the' dumping position, and the :ri'neahs by which the reel and the bowl are moiinted on'the side*-inemhers*of the auxiliary frame for rotation.

These, together with various ancillary objects and features of "the invention which will become apparent as the following edescriptionproceeds, are attained by the present invention, a pre- 25 ferred embodiment of which has been illustrated by way. ofexample only in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is aside elevational view of the present invention showing the same in the process of being loaded, and showing certain portions of the machine thatare concealed in dotted outlines;

Figure 2 is atop plan view of the present invention, concealed portions of the same being .shown'in dotted outlines;

I Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken 'upon the plane of the section line 3-3 of Figure 2, with concealed portions of the same being shown in dotted outlines; Figure -4 is a vertical transverse sectional view of the .presentinvention, this view being taken upon the planeof thesectionline '4-4 of Figure 1 and showing concealed portions of the same in dotted outlines; v

Figure 5 is adetail sectional view of a portion of the means for rotating the drum, this view being taken upon the plane of the section line 5--5of Figure 3; I

Figure 6 is a diagrammatic side elevational view of the meansprovided for rotating the transverse shaft; v

Figure 7 is a detail view in top plan of the power take-off andreversing mechanism for driving the transverse shaft, with portions of the housing for the transmission and the power take-01f being removedto show the internal convention resides in the di um, theheadandscrapstruction of the same;

Figure 8 is a detail view of a portion of the drive'for thereel construction;

Figure '9 is a diagrammatic viewof th'ehy- $40 draulic system utilized in the present invention for elevating theauxiliar'yfr'ame and for rotating the drum; and

' Figure '10 is a detail -sectional view of-the internal construction of one of the valves utilized in "the hydraulic system.

the accompanying drawings, wherein like numerals desig na't'e sim i-lar parts 'throughout the various views, "and in which the machine constituting :the subject matterlof the present invention is designated generally at Ill.

The machine Ill-includes a main frame 12-00mprising'spa'ced frame members, which intermediate their ends havefportions rl 6 offset outwardly .i withere'spect to {each jother. Theirea'r' ends of Reference is now 'iiiade more specifically to' 3 the frame members l4 are connected by a cross brace I8 and are suitably supported upon a spring mounted axle 20 having dirigible ground wheels 22 thereon. The wheels 22 are provided with a conventional steering linkage which includes steering arms 21 connected by a tie rod 23 whereby the wheels turn in unison. In the preferred form of the invention hydraulic means is provided for turning the wheels 22 which means includes a double acting hydraulic jack assembly 25, the cylinder of which is mounted on the axle 20 and the piston of which is pivoted to a steering arm 21 7 (see Figure 2.) The forward ends of the frame members I4 are supported on spring mounted traction wheels, and av prime mover, not shown, is carried by the frame members 14 in'advance of the traction wheels 24 by means not shown. An operators cab 26 is supported on the forward ends of the frame members l4, in which cab is con veniently disposed a steering wheel 28 and the other controls necessary for controlling the operation of the machine, the steering wheel being provided with means, not shown, for controlling the hydraulic assembly 25.

As best shown in Figures 1-3, an auxiliary frame is provided which includes spaced sidemembers 30 disposed in parallel relation and above the parallel portions of the offset portions I5 of the frame members l4. While the rear extremities of the side members 34 are connected by a crossbar 32, the forward ends of these members are rotatably mounted upon a transverse shaft 34, such transverse shaft 34 being journaled for rotation in suitable bearings 36 carried by the portions 16 of the frame members l4. It will thus be seen that the auxiliary frame may be swung ina vertical are about the shaft 34 as a pivot relative to the main frame 42. As will be presently seen, means is provided for adjusting the angular relation of the auxiliary frame to the main frame, and for maintaining the frames in adjusted angular relationship. I

An earth elevating reel construction 38 (see Figures 1, 3, and 4) isprovided which includes spaced, parallel disks 4!), the peripheries of which are connected by circumferentially spaced earth elevating vanes 42. The disks 40 are disposed between the side members 30, and have oppositely extending hollow hubs or axles 44 suitably journaled through the side members 34 at a position substantially equidistant from the wheels 22 and 24. It will be noted that the hubs 44 project through the members 30 and have toothed sprockets 45 rigidly affixed thereto for a purpose to be presently set forth, it being noted that suitable spacing means 48 is provided to prevent contact of the disks 40 with the side members 30.

A shaft 50 rotatably extends through the aligned hubs 44 and carries toothed sprockets 52 rigidly affixed to its opposite extremities for a purpose to be presently set forth. An earth carrying drum or bowl 54 is provided that is disposed within the reel construction 38. The top of the drum 54 is provided with an opening 55, and the opposite end walls 58 of the drum are provided with centrally disposed hollow bosses 60 which receive the shaft 50 therethrough, and such bosses 60 being suitably secured to the shaft 50 for rotation therewith. As best shown in Figures 1-3, an arcuate hood 62 is provided which partially embraces the rearmost portion of the reel construction 38, such hood 52 having segmental parallel end walls 54 which are disposed between the side members 30 and rigidly secured thereto by fastening means 66. The lower edge of the hood 62 terminates in an integral scraper blade 68 that is disposed below the drum 54 and spaced rearwardly of the shaft 50, and as best shown in Figure 3, the scraper blade 68 is offset from the travel path of the vanes 42 to a greater extent than the hood 52. It will also be noted that the cutting edge of the scraper blade 68 is disposed upon substantially the same plane as the lower-most travel of the vanes 42.

As thus far described, it will be appreciated that upon advance of the machine In, the scraper blade 68 will cut off the top layer of ground, and that the vanes 42 will be rotated by ground contact and run between the hood 62 and the bowl 54 to deposit the earth cut by the scraper blade 68 in the bowl 54 through the opening 56. It will be understood that the thickness of the layer of ground out by the scraper blade 68 will be determined by the relative angular position of the auxiliary frame and the main frame.

In order to control the relative angular position of the auxiliary frame and the main frame, a double acting hydraulic jack [0 is provided which includes a cylinder 12 and a piston rod 14 extensible therefrom, the cylinder 12 being pivoted at 16 to a bracket 18 fixed on the hood 62, and the piston rod '14 being suitably pivoted at 80 to a cross member 82 connecting the frame members l4. Since the hood 62 is fixedly secured to the side members 30 of the auxiliary frame, it will be evident that upon extension of the hydraulic Jack '10 the auxiliary frame will be elevated, and that upon retraction of the hydraulic jack in the auxiliary frame will be depressed relative to the main frame. The means for actuating the hydraulic jack ID will be described shortly.

In order to rotate the drum or bowl 54 between the loading or carrying position of the same shown in Figure 3 to an inverted position for dumping the contents thereof through the opening 56, a transverse shaft 84 is iournaled through the side members 30. Levers 86 are fixedly secured intermediate their ends to the opposite extremities of the shaft 84, and the opposite ends of each of the levers 86 terminate in arcuate portions 88 that have peripheral grooves 99 formed therein. Flexible drive chains 82 are entrained over the sprockets 52 and have their opposite extremities fixedly secured to the arcuate portions 88 as at 94, such drive chains being entrained over the arcuate portions and disposed in the, grooves 90 -as will be readily understood upon reference to the drawings. It is therefore evident that rotation of the shaft!" will be accompanied by rotation of the axle 50 and therefore the drum54.

As best shown in Figures 1 and 2, the levers 8B are connected by a bar 94 so as to constitute a crank for rotating the levers 86. A hydraulic jack including a cylinder 96 and a piston rod 98 is provided that is of the double acting type, the piston rod 98 being pivotally connected to the bar 94 at I06, and the cylinder 96 being pivotally connected to the member 32 as at 1112. It will thus be seen that extension of this hydraulic jack will cause clockwise rotation of the drum 54 as seen in Figure 1, while retraction of this jack will cause the drum to rotate in the anticlockwise direction. r V

S Attention is now directed to the means provided for actuating the hydraulic ja'cks. Referring to Figure 9, the hydraulic'sys'te'm is seen to include a hydraulic pump 104, which by means not shown is driven bythe prime mover of the machine I0, a reservoir I06 whichcommunicates with the low pressure side, or theintake or the pump I34 through a fluid line I06, and a'bypass line I I0 connecting the pressure sideof the pump I64 to the reservoir I06 having a pressure relief valve II2 therein. A pair of control valves H4 and I I 6 are arranged in parallel between the hydraulic pressure line I I8 and the return line I to the reservoir I06. Each of the valves H4 and the passage I36 communicates between the ports I36 and I26 to a position wherein the passage I34 communicates between the ports I24 and I While the passage I36 communicates between the ports I28 and I26. Obviously, when the valve core I32 is rotated 45 degrees, the valve core I32 closes off communication between all of the ports in the casing I22. Inasmuch as the ports I28 and I30 are connected by a hydraulic circuit, it will be noted that the position of the valve core I32 determines the direction of fluid movement in such hydraulic circuit, or whether fluid movement in such hydraulic circuit will bepermitted. Hydraulic lines I36 and I40 connect the ports I28 and I33, respectively, of the valve II6 to the opposite ends of the hydraulic cylinder 12, while hydraulic lines I42 and I44 connect the ports I28 and I30, respectively, of the valves I I4 to the opposite ends of the hydraulic cylinder96, whereby the movements of the piston rods'14 and 98 may be controlled. Obviously, the hydraulic assembly 25 may be incorporated in the hydraulic circuit between the lines H8 and I20 to be operated by the pump I 04.

Attention is now directed to Figures 6-8 for a showing of the means employed for driving the transverse shaft 34. The numeral I46 designates a conventional transmission from the output shaft I 48 of which power is transmitted through the universal joint I50 to the traction wheels 24. A power take-off designated generally at I52 is provided which includes a housing I 54. Journaled in the housing I54 is a shaft I56 on which is slidable a toothed gear I58. The gear I58 is moved longitudinally of the shaft I56 by means of a bar I6il having engagement at one end by means of a yoke carried at one end engaging a grooved collar fixed to one side of the gear I58 as shown generally at I62, the bar I60 being adjusted in position by means of a shift lever I64 pivoted thereto at one end and being pivoted intermediate its ends to a bracket I66 carried by the housing of the transmission I46. As will be readily seen upon reference to Figure '7, the gear I58 is slidable on the shaft I56 into meshing engagement with a power driven gear I68. An output shaft I10 is journaled in the housing I54 and has a gear I12 fixed thereon, the gear I56 being movable into a position in meshing engagement with both the gears I68 and I12 to drive the output shaft I10. An idler gear I14 is rotatably mounted in the housing I54 in continuous meshtween the frame members I4.

"precepts ftion engaging the idler ga'r P14, in which I latter positio'n'the' gear -I 58 "is "still in mesh relation with the gear I68 to drivetheoutpiitshaft I10 in a reverse'directio'n to that when the gear I58 is'engaged with the gear I1'2, as'-will be readilyunderstood. Of course, no rotation will 'be imparted to'the shaft I10 when the gear I58is'dispose'd in a position intermediate theige'alrs I 12 and I14.

The output shaft I10, through beveledgears I18 drives a-transverse shaft I'80.journa1ed be- The transverse shafts 34 and. 180 are "provided with toothed sprockets, over 'which isentraineda flexible chain I82, wherebythe rotation of the shaft I is imparted to the transverse-shaft 34.

As-clearly shown in-Figures l-and2, toothed sprockets I84 are fixedly secured to the opposite ends of the transverse shaft '34, and flexible chains I86 are entrained over the sprockets I34 and the sprockets 46,it being recalled that the latter mentioned sprockets are secured to the reel construction 38, whereby a positive drive is afforded the reel construction 38. It will also be appreciatedthat by virtue of the type of power take-off provided, the direction of rotation of the reel construction 38 maybe controlled independent of the direction 'of advance ofthe machinelll. v H p M V The operation of the-present invention will be readily understood, 7 The bowl 54 may be loaded as shownin'Figure'l, whnfpower is being applied to the reel constructioni38 in a clockwise direction, or when the latter is merely permitted to turn by'virtue'of itsi'eri'gagement with the ground. After .thebowl 54 has-been filled, the hydraulic jack 10' is 'extended'to lvatihe" auxiliary frame,

and 'the machi'rie I0'driv n 'tp'the. point of discharge, at which timethelhydraulic cylinder 96 during the loading'operation' may be accurately controlled by the vertical position of the auxiliary frame. It will be appreciated that in soft ground or wherever traction for the machine is difficult.

the positive drive to the reel construction 36 will materially assist the traction wheels 24 in propelling the machine. Since the reel is disposed intermediate the wheels 22 and 24, the auxiliaryframe may be lowered to such a position that av very large portion of the weight of the entire machine is resting upon the reel construction, so

that the latter may afford a very effective propelling means for the machine. It will be noted that the center of gravity of the machine is preferably disposed slightly forwardly of the reel, so that substantially the entire weight of the machine is disposed on the reel construction and the forward traction wheels 24. Inasmuch as the reel may be driven in a reverse direction relative to the direction of advance of the machine, an additional function of the present machine is possible, that is, the same may be used for grading. In other words, with the machine advancing in a forwardly direction as shown in Figure 1,. it will be evident that if the reel construction 33 is rotating in a counterclockwise direction, the vanes 42 of the reel construction 38 will be moving forwardly with respect to the ground surface so as to spread and even the top material on the round.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art after a consideration of the foregoing specification and accompanying drawings, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, but all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. In an earth moving machine, a wheel supported frame, an auxiliary frame pivoted to the 'wheel supported frame for vertical swinging movement, means for adjusting and maintaining said frames in adjusted angular relation, a rotary bowl mounted on the auxiliary frame for rotation about an axis transverse to the fore and aft axes of the wheel supported frame, said bowl having an opening at the topthereof, a scraper blade spaced below the bowl and spaced rearwardly of said transverse axis, an arcuate hood extending upwardly from the scraper blade in spaced symmetrical relation to the bowl, said blade and hood being carried by the auxiliary frame, an earth elevating reel rotatably mounted on the auxiliary frame to rotate about the transverse axis and running between the hood and'the bowl, and fluid pressure actuated means connecting the auxiliary frame and the bowl for rotating the bowl to dump the contents thereof through said opening, comprising said bowl having an axle rigidly aflixed thereto, a toothed sprocket fixed on said axle, an elongated lever pivoted intermediate its ends to the auxiliary frame, said lever having its opposite ends terminating in arcuate portions drive chain entrained over the sprocket and rigidly secured to the arcuate portions, and a hydraulic assembly pivotally connected to the lever and the auxiliary frame.

2. An earth moving machine comprising a frame, forward and rear pairs of ground wheels supporting said frame, a prime mover drivingly connected to one of said pairs of ground wheels, a shaft mounted for rotation on the wheel supported frame transversely thereof, an auxiliary frame having one end pivotally mounted on the shaft for vertical swinging movement, a hydraulic cylinder connected to said wheel supported frame for adjusting and maintaining said frames in adjusted angular relation to control the height of the auxiliary frame, a rotary bowl secured to an axle carried by said auxiliary frame for rotation about an axis located intermediate said ground engaging wheels and parallel to said shaft, said bowl having an opening at the top thereof, a ground-engaging scraper blade spaced below said bowl and rearwardly of the axis thereof, an arcuate hood extending upwardly from said scraper blade in spaced concentric relation to said bowl, said hood being rigidly secured to said auxiliary frame, said hydraulic cylinder for maintaining said frames in adjusted position being carried by said hood, an earth elevating reel mounted on said auxiliary frame for rotation about the axle of said bowl between said bowl and said scraper, drive means connecting said prime mover to said shaft for selectively rotating same, flexible drive means connecting said shaft so said reel for rotating same, a toothed sprocket carried b the axle of said bowl, an elongated lever pivoted intermediate its ends to said auxiliary frame, said lever having arcuate end portions, a drive chain entrained over said sprocket and rigidly secured to said arcuate portions, a second hydraulic cylinder connected to said auxiliary frame and said lever for rotating said bowl, hydraulic pump means for said hydraulic cylinders driven by said prime mover.

FREDRICK D. CAHILL.

References Cited in the file Of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 66,159 Matheny June 25, 1867 221,872 Small Nov. 18, 1879 1,669,480 Mclntire May 15, 1928 1,985,188 Miller Dec. 18, 1934 2,138,820 Post et al. Dec. 6, 1938 2,298,566 Johnson Oct. 13, 1942 2,404,123 Clark July 16, 1946 2,564,563 Clark Aug. 14, 1951

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